New Listings

171 Southern Avenue,Pittsburgh,PA 15211

Great Investment or owner occupied. Large back yd, nice front porch priced to sell.  Near busline, newer carpets, exterior refaced, 24 hour notice to show.  Owner is agent. Additional photo studio in rear rented for $320 a month. Easily Cash flows.

MLS#: 767467 Status: Active Area: Mt Washington List Price: $76,900 Address: 171 Southern Ave Zip Code : 15211 Lot: 31×144x26×136 m/l Acres: Map#/Block#/Lot#/Info: 4-P-173 Zoning: School Dist: Pittsburgh School Trans: y Public Trans: y

500 Willow Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15243

Stunning Renovation: New Kitchen W/ Granite, Stainless Steel Appliances, All New Upgraded Bathrooms, new lighting, Landscaped,  Crown Molding, Hardwood Floors, New Gameroom w/ Crown Molding, New Low E Double Pane Windows, 2 Porches, New Garage Door, Very Very Sharp!! Level Lot, Near Schools & Park!

MLS#: 773495 Status: Active List Price: $269,900 Address: 500 Willow Drive Area: Mt. Lebanon Zip Code: 15243 Bedrooms: 3 Baths Full: 2 Baths Partial: 1 Cedar to Salem to Academy to Willow. Excellent Location!! Vacant w/ Lock Box, Call 1st. Leave Msg. Go See it!! Public Open House Date: Public Open House Time: Public Open House Info: Lot: 115×50x100 Irregular Acres: Map#/Block#/Lot#/Info: 0142-K-00132-0000-00 School Dist: Mount Lebanon Home Warranty Included: N School Trans: N Public Trans: Y

Foreclosures/Sherriff Sales/Deals

These days investors are finding more and more that Foreclosures are occurring in areas more desirable where in the past perhaps this was not usually the case.  As a result, new investors not usually involved in these types of opportunities are finding their way to the auctioning floors. However, Buyer beware, these types of investments are not for beginners. If you want to “dabble” with these, make sure that you are represented by an experienced attorney.  What you believe might be a steal, may come equipped with, past due taxes, liens, and mortgages that your left with holding the bag.  A general rule of thumb is to perform a title search on any deal you may have an interest in. Find out exactly what survives settlement.  Know what you are getting into before you commit. Contact a Trends Select Realty Investment Specialist to help guide you through the process. For some additional FAQ about Sherriff Sales go to http://www.sri-sheriffsale.com/SheriffFAQ.aspx

Buying in These times…

With the real estate market bottomed out and the credit markets loosening, You must position yourself correctly to take full advantage of opportunities that will not be here in the coming years.  For first time homebuyers, the $8000 tax credit made available by the Obama Administration and expiring November 30, 2009 is an excellent opportunity to take advantage of. To find out more, go to http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_important_details_on_8000_tax_credit_for_first_time_home_buyers For Investors, although housing has seen a slump and some commercial properties have experienced higher vacancies with lower rents, Multi-Family properties remain one of the strongest and more desirable investments in the Pittsburgh Region. The key strategies with these type of investments have seen little if any change.  Buy it at the right price and in the right location and the rest will come together.  Contact a Trends Select Realty Commercial Specialist to ensure that your property valuations are accurate. A proper pro-forma valuation adding in the unexpected expenses (ie. vacancies, capital reserves, delinquencies, management, etc.) will ensure you are investing wisely.

Finding Your Realtor by “Accident”

When someone decides it is time to sell their home, they interview several Realtors from different companies to determine which one is best for them. They want someone who will represent them and someone they feel will do an effective job at marketing their home.

However, when someone decides to buy a home,  they usually end up with their Realtor through sheer accident. Why don’t home buyerssearch for a Realtor the same way that home sellers do?

Instead, homebuyers usually end up with a Realtor as a result of answering an advertisement. The advertisement will give a brief summary of a home available for sale along with the price, but it says nothing at all about the Realtor.

So…

…does it really make a difference?

Listing Agents and Selling Agents

You see, there are two “sides” to every sale. The listing side and the selling side. Most deals have an agent representing each side, so there are generally two agents involved The seller’s side is represented by the listing agent. The buyer’s side is represented by the selling agent (also known as the buyer’s agent).

Agents can deal with both buyers and sellers, but the majority tend to focus their efforts on one or the other. Some even exclusively handle either buyers or sellers.

So what should you do?

We simply recommend that you take as much care to hire a real estate agent as you would for any other professional. Ask questions. Ask about education, experience, and focus.

After all, buying your next house is probably the biggest purchase you’ve ever made in your life. Does it make more sense to find your agent by accident…or by design?

Courtesy of www.realestateabc.com